Situated roughly 350 miles off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde has long been a mesh of cultures, history and races. The former Portuguese territory was once a key location for the transatlantic slave trade, a target for 16th century pirates and a refuge for exiled Jews.
From this diverse melting pot were born the unique sounds of the batuque, morno, funana and other distinct musical styles.
Now, Cape Verde is seeking to tap-into the spoils of this rich cultural heritage in a bid to help its economy flourish.
Alternative resources
Bereft of oil, gas, gold, diamonds or the conventional natural resources that have fueled growth in many other African countries, Cape Verde has had to look for alternative sectors to aid its development.
And what's more alternative than a jiving, swinging, musical economy?
"Besides of fish, it is pretty common (for Cape Verde) to say 'our biggest richness is in music and culture,'" said Christine Semba of Womex, an international networking platform for the world music genre.
Semba makes a serious point with a tongue-in-cheek example. Yet, the economic potential of music has also been acknowledged by Cape Verde's prime minister, Jose Maria Neves.
The country's ministry of culture is also run by Mario Lucio de Sousa, himself a popular musician.
"The future of our country lies in our capacity to create, our capacity to innovate," Neves said in reference to the music and the arts at a World Trade Organization conference in 2013.